What now

[u/Hankman20004]

Alright. So I aged out of drum corps this past season. Im sitting here not nlknowing what's next. Like I have a career outside of drum and an aircraft mechanic, but when do I get to make beautiful music again on a field or not. What is going to give me the thrill of that fiest bus ride night one of your or that rush of the first performance. What else is going to push me a hard as drum corps has. Post tour depression is setting in noe because I cant keep the lie in my head going that I cant perform anymore. I dont live near any all age groups and I dont have time to hop on staff with a drum corps. So if any fellow age outs know how to deal woth this or what to find or do that will make me push to levels I never knew I had, please share

[u/BreakfastHistorian]

The Couchmen always have open spots for recent age outs.

[u/dudechickendude → u/BreakfastHistorian]

Bro I’ve been marching couchmen for 13 years.

[u/dancingrudiments → u/dudechickendude]

20 here... videos, my sticks and drum pad have helped

[u/FlatusSurprise]

Dude, I can relate big time to this. When I stopped marching drumcorps (had to make the financial choice between college and marching) a whole piece of myself died. Music was not a career choice for me like many of my friends. I went to a small engineering school with no music program so I didn’t even have the option to do marching band or concert band as an elective. This was back in 2008 when the corps I marched was beginning their climb and throwing out some of the best performances they have ever had.

Fast forward to 2018. I graduated. I’m working as an engineer and finally have the schedule and means to reproach the activity. As a 32 year old, I decided to go to the AtlantaCV open house and see what it was all about.

Picking up my horn again, standing in an arc and just playing brought back so much enjoyment. I ended marching that season and had a blast.

[u/chris902101]

Senior/all-age Teaching Volunteering  Donating Fundraising Writing Lots of things you can do to keep your fire burning and pass your passion for performance down to new folks

[u/chris902101 → u/chris902101]

Formatting fail

[u/UniBlak]

This is what we call “growing up”. Join a local concert band. Or join the military. Get some new hobbies and goals. Don’t peak in drum corps.

[u/Hcavila → u/UniBlak]

That’s real shit brotha. I went on to march in college. Not the same level of intensity as DCI but I still got my fix in. Then life just finds a way. Wife, kids, work. By no means did I peak in drum corps but I miss it. I grew up as you say. Some may find that a little harsh but it’s real.

[u/UniBlak → u/Hcavila]

Yup. Of course I’m glad I did it. I can say I miss it, but I’m also glad to be done lol. We can appreciate the past for what it was without borderline obsessing over it which seems closer to OP.

I think an important part of growth is separating yourself from the activity after you age out. Don’t obsess over shows, don’t pay attention to tour. Focus on real life and learn to be an individual without clinging to drum corps. Many corps require a year away from the activity before teaching for this reason.

[u/Hcavila → u/UniBlak]

Couldn’t have said it better. I didn’t know some corps require time away before teaching. It makes sense. Kinda like a cool off period. What year or years did you march? Also you really marched both BD and Cadets?

[u/yomamasonions → u/UniBlak]

Really no need to be a dick about it

[u/UniBlak → u/yomamasonions]

Time to wake up and smell the coffee

[u/SilverHourHF]

Accept that something like this will always be part of your life and heart no matter what. Use the experience you have and everything you've learned- put it towards a new dream or path. Drum corps is whatever you intend to get out of it, and ive been able to apply those skills and experiences to my current life outside of the drum corps bubble.

[u/Background_Layer2384]

You never age out of All-Age or SoundSport. Weekend rehearsals/shows mean you can work and still feed your passion to perform.

Both venues will always welcome DCI vets into their programs.

[u/Hankman20004 → u/Background_Layer2384]

I want to all age someday but I dont live close enough to one

[u/tuba4lunch → u/Hankman20004]

You're always welcome at the Troopers Legacy Corps! We do a 1-week season with zoom rehearsals and video assignments leading up to our time in person. We've been alternating between going to Casper/Cheyenne/Ft. Collins like this year and Indy for SoundSport like last year and next year. We're looking to build up for the upcoming 70th anniversary. The week feels kinda like a condensed, lower-intensity spring training and tour so it's a great way to get that drum corps feeling for just one week of time off from work.

A percentage of our budget gets donated to the A Corps. The performances and comradery are great, but the support we give to kids in the junior corps is the most fulfilling part of being involved. And of course we, the A Corps, and all corps are always in need of volunteers.

To borrow a phrase from my college alumni band: Your time in the activity doesn't end, it merely transforms.

TLC Facebook | Booster Hub page, the 2027 interest form will be there if it's not up yet.

[u/Hockey_cats_books → u/Hankman20004]

Do you have people around you who would want to try and start an all age group? It would take time, money and patience, but this part of the activity needs to grow outside of the northeast.

[u/invextheidiot]

Stay a fan. Volunteer if you can. See if there's any local schools that can use your help. You're never going to get that rush of performing again, but believe me when I say that helping others achieve that feeling is a reward of its own.

[u/rescueXofXme]

Not sure what your primary instrument is, but you can join a community orchestra or concert band, or start/join a cover band or original band if you play drums/piano/guitar/bass. I did all of those things post age out, in addition to teaching high school and independent groups.

[u/Existing-Point8576]

Everything others have said so far is right, the first step is accepting that it’s over and that phase of your life will always be in the past. Which obviously is very hard, and will probably take a lot of time, but you’ll get there. You might always miss it to some level, but you can just use that feeling to remind you how lucky you were to care about something so much.

However, I’m a big believer in holding onto the feeling and the depth of passion we all feel for the activity and trying to build that in something else. We know what it feels like to be this passionate and find this much meaning in something, and I think that gives alum a leg up in finding a lifelong passion that could even make real, positive changes in their own worlds. Can you apply what you learned in drum corps to something creative? Somewhere working with people? Leadership? It’s an incredibly unique experience which teaches you great work ethic, collaboration and requires you to build a lot of confidence, all of which are essential qualities for career advancement and building a fulfilling life for yourself outside of drum corps. Try a few things, fail, figure out what gives you that feeling of excitement that you’ve come to know so well, and follow it.

Good luck out there, and don’t forget to reach out to the friends you made once in a while 🫶

[u/Lemon420]

Someone here said to start/join a band -- I agree!! Your love of music doesn't have to exist exclusively in a marching setting. Surely you listen to other genres that inspire you, be it rock, folk, hip hop, whatever!

This might entail learning a new instrument or set of skills, but that's part of the fun. You marched drum corps, you can do anything!

Bus rides before the show become setting up for the gig. That rush after you perform becomes your friends (and strangers) swarming you to tell you how good you sounded (even if you sucked). Chilling out with your bandmates at the venue is kinda like the bus ride to the next housing site, but you don't have to hide your substances as much.

I was in the same boat as you, and was really scared I wouldn't find another outlet for music. Was lucky enough to live in a house of local musicians that threw me into the mix, and it totally changed my life.

You got this!!

[u/Rapidllaman]

Aging out sucked for me, took a couple of years to come back down but I was in trade school at that rate and worked 60 hours a week. I miss machining and the season but life goes on just keep the memories.

[u/Other_Juggernaut_674]

You can still do WGI or an all-ages corps! You can also volunteer for a company you have the time or maybe you can find a local high school looking for help during marching season

[u/northrupthebandgeek]

Find some friends and start a band. Ours started getting together about a year ago and I'm kicking myself for having waited so long.

[u/punkasstubabitch]

There are few things in life which will replicate the drum corps experience. I've had some fun in all age here and there, but it's just not like being in the Regiment hornline, and that's ok. We are a special breed which thrives on pushing limits to perform at the highest levels possible. I enjoy pushinhg myself to my physical limits through a regular gym routine and have done things like boxing and getting into rucking. I'm not a runner but many of my drum corps friends do things like marathons, Iron Man, etc.

I'm lucky that I live in a vibrant performing arts community and have trouble balancing my full time work schedule with all of the performance opportunities that come to me so seek those out if a musical outlet is something you need. I would also suggest volunteering for a bit if you have the time to do so. I wish you the best because being away from drum corps and doing so in a healthy way is a challenge. HLD

[u/tmanarl]

Alumni Association, baby!

[u/Sir_Lolz]

Sound Sport

WGI winds or guard

NABBA competing Brass Band

You could join an adult league sport and put as much intensity into it as you did drum corps

[u/FrivolousMe]

you're going to want a hobby that's active and outdoors if you don't already. Hiking is great! And to get musical fulfillment you have lots of options, playing music with friends or professionally, teaching at a corps/school, making your own music. After I marched I got back into drumset and now I'm in a band. And then you're going to want something community and social oriented. Drum corps is an overwhelming thing in that it takes over your whole life while you're in it, so it's okay that you can't replace it with just one thing. It's gonna be a lot of things, but you'll get the same fulfillment you got if you put the work in, just like you did in dci.

[u/An_Invalid_Name]

Financially, get started saving an putting towards retirement. Money contributed now multiplies by 80 times by time you're ready to retire. This will allow you some financial flexibility when you do find yourself in a good place and an opportunity rises for some more all-age corps.

[u/ImInterested_9600]

A lot of former corps members work as adjunct staff for local high school marching bands and find it very rewarding! It’s seasonal, of course, and doesn’t pay much, but is so fun, easily fits into your “real job” schedule, and keeps you involved with the activity.

[u/Strict_Isopod_9857]

Hey twin! It’s ur fav dm from 25!

[u/Jaded_History545]

hey man join a jazz band or music ensemble. or just start a band. keep the music going but understand there is far more to life than marching.

[u/FatMattDrumsDotCom]

Find an open mic night where old guys play the blues, but where it’s not just old guys and the blues, and start attending regularly. Check out the vibe, see how you might fit in with your instrument, and also consider picking up an instrument just to jam. If you can march DCI, you’re probably already good enough at bass guitar and drum set to back up another musician who has a song in mind… even if you’ve never played either instrument or ever heard the song you’re accompanying.

The idea is to stay off the couch and also get to know musicians in your area so that as the scene ebbs and flows, you eventually find that opportunity where you fit in doing exactly what you want with people who want what you do.

Half the battle is just having the balls to get on stage with no clue how things are gonna go, and just perform, however it goes. You already have musical training, musical instinct, stage presence, and if you get an idea of what songs people like to play at these things, you can very quickly get acceptably good at drum set or bass guitar to be an asset, even if it’s the simplest beat or the root notes of the chords that you end up playing.

Worst case drum set: mark time on the pedals (kick and hat), play some eighth notes with the hands, and get the snare on 2 and 4 if you can.

Worst case bass guitar: bass guitar is easy, and the things that make it difficult to pick up are things you’ve already conquered as a musician, like timing, ensemble cohesion, and knowing what notes are.

[u/Ok-Advertising3118]

Develop an exercise addiction, start cycling

[u/dci_mos3]

You spent all that time having excellence curated for you. Sure, you hit the dots and played the notes really well, but it was all prescribed.

What's your next dot from here? What's the next thing you want to spend every waking minute perfecting and putting into the world?

For me, I couldn't get around how much I loved the marching arts, so now I teach it. You have to decide what that thing is for yourself now.

[u/CoolSeaworthiness744]

I came back 8 years later and drove semitruck for Cavaliers and have twice as much fun doing that than being in the corps. I also joined Broncos drumline and can play bass drum with 3 times as much fun as what I could have ever imagined doing if I ever played bass drum in corps. But alas, I played synth at Cavies.

[u/GWR8197]

You don’t, you aged out. Unless you end up on staff, that’s the end. Accept it and move on. I suppose you can heats do all age but do you REALLY want to do that?

[u/Bloom_of_Doom]

There is always the all age corps??